North Central's Harris makes college decision: 'It felt like home'

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North Central High School sophomore Rikki Harris (1) puts up a shot as she's fouled on a play during the first half of the IHSAA 4A Girls' Basketball Tournament Regional championship game, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, at Decatur Central High School. (Photo: Doug McSchooler/for IndyStar)

One of the state’s top high school girls basketball players decided the time was right to make her college commitment.

North Central junior guard Rikki Harris told the Ohio State coaching staff on Tuesday that she was ready to commit to the Buckeyes. The 5-11 Harris, ranked as the No. 24 national prospect in the 2019 class by ESPN, picked Ohio State over Purdue, Michigan, Penn State and a number of other scholarship offers.

“Ohio State didn’t put a lot of pressure on me to commit,” Harris said. “They were interested in everything about me, not just basketball. They talked about family and life off the court. It was easy talking to them. It felt like home.”

Harris said she realized by the second of her three unofficial visits to Ohio State that Columbus was likely going to be the place for her. She sat down with her family on Monday to weigh all of the issues and came to the same conclusion.

“I knew I wanted to go there,” she said. “The whole recruiting process has been a little stressful, but after sitting down with my family and parents, they all love Ohio State.”

Harris averaged a team-leading 17.4 points as a sophomore to lead North Central to a 27-1 record. The Panthers are 13-0 this season and again ranked No. 1 in Class 4A.

Ohio State has an Indiana connection on the current roster in former Brownsburg star Stephanie Mavunga, a 2013 McDonald’s All-American. Mavunga, a senior, transferred from North Carolina to Ohio State prior to her junior season. She is averaging 15.5 points and 11.6 rebounds for the Buckeyes, who are ranked No. 12 in the nation by the Associated Press.

“I know some of their players but not a lot of them,” Harris said. “I watch their games. They are a fast-paced team with an attacking defense. They play together really well.”

The timing of her commitment might seem unusual. But Harris said there was no reason to wait.

“There were a lot of great schools recruiting me,” she said. “Especially the in-state schools. I didn’t want to go too far (from home). I’m happy with the decision I made but it was hard to break ties with those other schools. They all treated me so nicely.”